RN Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana RN Program Guide

The Louisiana Center for Nursing reported that the state currently has 48,300 registered nurses. Even though most of the nurses work in hospitals, employment in hospitals is seeing a decline. Louisiana nurses can seek employment in physician’s offices as well as positions in long-term care. In Louisiana, a majority of nurses are over the age of 50 and will be retiring in the near future. Over time, there will be a strong demand for more nurses to fill the void. It is because of this that more qualified applicants are being accepted into both ADN and BSN degree programs.

In our Louisiana RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key Louisiana RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of Louisiana offers 26 RN programs in 16 different cities. Public institutions offer 21 of the RN programs in the state while there are 0 private, for-profit and 5 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

In the State of Louisiana, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

What is the best RN program for you to attend? Your sweet spot might be the least expensive school with the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate. Or, it might the school that offers the best NCLEX-RN passing rate no matter the total cost of attendance. You may also want to consider schools with the highest enrollment rate so that you can collaborate with fellow students and have a large alumni to connect with after graduation.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to Louisiana RN Programs.

ADN Programs in Louisiana

Nursing schools in Louisiana are flexible to meet the need of busy, working nurses. Programs can be completed online, in a traditional campus setting, and a combination of the two. Some classes a nurse can expect to take in a bachelor’s program may include:

• Administrative and management issues
• Ethical matters as related to legal and medical topics
• Statistical data as related to health problems
• Psychology
• Sociology

There are many nursing school options available and nurses are encouraged to research every option to find the best school possible.

NCLEX Passing Rates for Louisiana  ADN Programs

Louisiana Delta Community College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Louisiana of 95.17%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $16,515.00 a year.

• ADN Programs Offered in Louisiana: 13
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 89.08%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 68.96% to 95.17%

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Louisiana?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Louisiana so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in Louisiana is offered by Delgado Community College at about $6,846.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 88.94%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Louisiana Delta Community College and it will cost about $16,515.00.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inLouisiana: $9,278.31
• Net-Price Range for Louisiana ADN Programs: $6,846.00 to $16,515.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Louisiana Schools: $10,084.83
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Louisiana: $1,750.00 to $18,500.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 12
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 1

BSN Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana has 25 accredited nursing schools that offer RN to BSN on campus and online, as well as 3 to 4 year on campus BSN degrees. The programs are highly competitive and admissions can be dependent on completing 28-34 hours of prerequisite courses with a “B” or better. An 80% cumulative score on the HESI Admission Assessment Exam A2. A proctored essay or personal essay may be required. An applicant will have an interview prior to admission for many programs. A Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen will be required. Application to the program will require a $62.50 fee to the Board of Nursing. Upon graduation the student will be required to apply for state licensure. There is a $100.00 fee and the NCLEXRN exam fee of $200.00. Elective courses can include: Fine Arts/Dance, Drama/Theatre, and Music.

NCLEX Passing Rates for Louisiana BSN Programs

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Louisiana with a score of 96.84%.

• BSN Programs Offered in Louisiana: 15
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 87.74%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 65.21% to 96.84%

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Louisiana?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Louisiana to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in Louisiana is offered by University of Louisiana-Monroe and will cost you about $7,162.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 94.92%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Loyola University New Orleans and will cost you about $23,419.00.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Louisiana: $11,827.93
• Net-Price Range for Louisiana BSN Programs: $7,162.00 to $23,419.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Louisiana Schools: $17,132.79
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Louisiana: $11,260.00 to $27,956.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 10
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 5

MSN Programs in Louisiana

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Louisiana offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

Louisiana RN Licensing Requirements

Louisiana State Board of Nursing
17373 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Phone: (225) 755-7500

Website: http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/

Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $142.50
License renewal, RN: $80-$105 depending on date or renewal

Continuing Education Requirements:
RNs: Five, 10, or 15 contact hours every year, based on employment

RN Licensure by Exam

Prior to graduation, nurses should begin the steps towards licensure. The candidate will apply to the board and register to Pearson VUE, which is the company that administers the NCLEX exam. The exam can be scheduled after the candidate receives the authorization to test (ATT). The Louisiana State Board of Nurses may grant candidates a temporary permit when they registered with Pearson. In the case the candidates fail an examination the permit will become no longer valid. If clinical work was completed in Louisiana, fingerprints will not be required. The only online program for initial licensure that is accepted is Excelsior College. This requires a $100 application fee and $42.50 fingerprinting fee as well as the $200 NCLEX exam. Candidates who do not pass the NCLEX will be required to complete a retake request along with a $100 money order.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

Nurses who have obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states may obtain licensure in Louisiana by endorsement. There is a $142.50 application fee for the endorsement if the application is sent in by mail. The fee will increase to $152.50 if the application is brought in and fingerprints are done on site. Candidates who wish to work under a temporary permit will have to pay $192.50 for mailed in applications and $202.50 for applications turned in on site. In case of a disaster or emergency, out-of-state nurses may be granted a disaster permit to work as a volunteer or paid employee.

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

International registered nurses are required to take the CGFNS qualifying exam unless the NCLEX has already been passed. Candidates may also be required to take the TOEFL to prove English competency.

RN Salaries in Louisiana

Nurses in Louisiana earn a median annual salary of almost $62,000. The salary increases with education and experience. Nurses who have obtained a bachelors degree or higher are likely to be more experiences with:

• Administration and leadership positions
• Researching statistical data
• Positions dealing with ethics
• Writing and implementing policy

An RN to BSN degree program can be completed in about 12 months. This is dependent on the program the nurse chooses. The programs are designed to meet the need of busy nurses to help encourage more baccalaureate prepared nurses.

Louisiana Registered Nursing Salaries

The New Orleans metropolitan area has the largest amount of registered nurses employed than any other area in Louisiana. It should not come as a surprise then that the same area has the highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.

Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data